Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A device for connected device voice command support, the device comprising: a microphone to receive a voice command from a user; a device discovery circuit set to identify a set of connected devices proximate to the user; a speech converter to: transform the voice command into a semantic representation of the voice command; and translate the semantic representation of the voice command into a command for the set of connected devices; and a transceiver to communicate the command to the set of connected devices including the transceiver to: transmit the command to the set of connected devices; receive responses to the transmission of the command from a subset of the set of connected devices, the responses indicating that the command matches a supported command of members of the subset of connected devices; identify conflicts between a plurality of the subset of connected devices based on the command present the existence of the conflicts to the user via a haptic output; observe a physical response of the user to select a connected device from the plurality of the subset of connected devices, the physical response being at least one of waving a hand or looking at the connected device; and respond to the subset of connected devices to carry out the command by a reissue of the command transmitted to the set of connected devices again to the connected device, the reissue of the command being restricted to the connected device by the physical response of the user in response to the presentation of the conflicts.
A device enables voice control of connected devices. It uses a microphone to capture voice commands. A device discovery component identifies nearby connected devices. A speech converter transforms the voice command into a semantic representation, then into specific commands for the identified devices. A transceiver sends the commands to these devices. The transceiver also receives responses indicating command support. If conflicts arise between devices due to the command, the device alerts the user haptically. The device then observes the user's physical response (e.g., waving or looking) to select a specific device, and reissues the command, restricting it only to the selected device.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein to identify the set of connected devices includes the device discovery circuit set to: receive a discovery request from the user; broadcast a discovery message; and receive device identifications for a group of connected devices in response to the discovery message.
The device from the previous description identifies connected devices by first receiving a discovery request from the user. It then broadcasts a discovery message to the network. In response to this broadcast, it receives device identification data from connected devices that receive the message. This identification information is then used to build a list of available devices for voice control.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein to identify the set of connected devices includes the device discovery circuit set to: present the device identifications for the group of connected devices to the user; and add members from the group of connected devices to the set of connected devices in response to user selections made in response to the presentation.
Building upon the previous description of device discovery, the device presents the list of discovered devices to the user. The user can then select specific devices from this list to be added to the set of connected devices that will respond to voice commands. This allows the user to curate the device set.
4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the broadcast is received by a connected device registry, and wherein the device identifications are received from the connected device registry.
The device discovery process from the previous description relies on a central connected device registry. The broadcast discovery message is received by this registry. The registry then provides the device identifications back to the controlling device, centralizing device discovery.
5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the device identifications are derived from a user defined translation of a device characterization.
The device identifications in the device discovery process from the previous description are derived from user-defined translations of device characteristics. This means users can customize how devices are identified and categorized, enabling more personalized control. For example, a user might define "living room lights" to represent a group of specific smart bulbs.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the voice command includes a connected device characterization, and wherein to identify the set of connected devices includes the device discovery circuit set to: filter a superset of connected devices using the connected device characterization.
In this device from the first description, the voice command itself includes a description of the target device. The device discovery component then filters a larger set of connected devices, using this device description from the voice command to narrow down the target devices. For instance, the user says "turn on the kitchen light," and only the device identified as "kitchen light" is considered.
7. A method for connected device voice command support, the method comprising: receiving a voice command from a user; identifying a set of connected devices proximate to the user; transforming the voice command into a semantic representation of the voice command translating the semantic representation of the voice command into a command for the set of connected devices; and communicating the command to the set of connected devices, the communicating including: transmitting the command to the set of connected devices; receiving responses to the transmission of the command from a subset of the set of connected devices, the responses indicating that the command matches a supported command of members of the subset of connected devices; identifying conflicts between a plurality of the subset of connected devices based on the command; presenting the existence of the conflicts to the user via a haptic output; observing a physical response of the user to select a connected device from the plurality of the subset of connected devices, the physical response being at least one of waving a hand or looking at the connected device; and responding to the subset of connected devices to carry out the command by reissuing the command transmitted to the set of connected devices again to the connected device, the reissuing of the command being restricted to the connected device by the physical response of the user in response to the presentation of the conflicts.
A method enables voice control of connected devices. A voice command is received. Nearby connected devices are identified. The voice command is transformed into a semantic representation, then into commands for the devices. These commands are sent to the devices. Device responses indicate command support. Conflicts between devices are identified, and the user is alerted haptically. The method observes the user's physical response (e.g., waving or looking) to select a device, and reissues the command, restricting it only to the selected device.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying the set of connected devices includes: receiving a discovery request from the user; broadcasting a discovery message; and receiving device identifications for a group of connected devices in response to the discovery message.
The method from the previous description identifies connected devices by receiving a discovery request, broadcasting a discovery message, and receiving device identifications in response.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein identifying the set of connected devices includes: presenting the device identifications for the group of connected devices to the user; and adding members from the group of connected devices to the set of connected devices in response to user selections made in response to the presentation.
Building upon the previous method of device discovery, this method presents a list of discovered devices to the user. The user then selects specific devices to add to the controllable set.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the broadcast is received by a connected device registry, and wherein the device identifications are received from the connected device registry.
In the device discovery method from the previous description, a central connected device registry receives the broadcast and provides device identifications.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the device identifications are derived from a user defined translation of a device characterization.
In the device discovery method from the previous description, device identifications are derived from user-defined translations of device characteristics.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the voice command includes a connected device characterization, and wherein identifying the set of connected devices includes filtering a superset of connected devices using the connected device characterization.
In the method from the first description, the voice command includes a device description. The method filters a larger set of connected devices using this description.
13. At least one non-transitory machine readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations for connected device voice command support, the operations comprising: receiving a voice command from a user; identifying a set of connected devices proximate to the user; transforming the voice command into a semantic representation of the voice command translating the semantic representation of the voice command into a command for the set of connected devices; and communicating the command to the set of connected devices, the communicating including: transmitting the command to the set of connected devices; receiving responses to the transmission of the command from a subset of the set of connected devices, the responses indicating that the command matches a supported command of members of the subset of connected devices; identifying conflicts between a plurality of the subset of connected devices based on the command; presenting the existence of the conflicts to the user via a haptic output; observing a physical response of the user to select a connected device from the plurality of the subset of connected devices, the physical response being at least one of waving a hand or looking at the connected device; and responding to the subset of connected devices to carry out the command by reissuing the command transmitted to the set of connected devices again to the connected device, the reissuing of the command being restricted to the connected device by the physical response of the user in response to the presentation of the conflicts.
A non-transitory machine-readable medium contains instructions to enable voice control of connected devices. The instructions, when executed, cause a machine to receive a voice command, identify nearby devices, transform the voice command into a semantic representation and then into device commands, and send these commands to the devices. Device responses are received to indicate command support. Conflicts are identified and the user is alerted haptically. The user's physical response (e.g., waving or looking) is observed to select a device, and the command is reissued, restricted to the selected device.
14. The at least one machine readable medium of claim 13 , wherein identifying the set of connected devices includes: receiving a discovery request from the user; broadcasting a discovery message; and receiving device identifications for a group of connected devices in response to the discovery message.
In the machine-readable medium from the previous description, identifying connected devices involves receiving a discovery request, broadcasting a discovery message, and receiving device identifications in response.
15. The at least one machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein identifying the set of connected devices includes: presenting the device identifications for the group of connected devices to the user; and adding members from the group of connected devices to the set of connected devices in response to user selections made in response to the presentation.
Building upon the device discovery in the machine-readable medium from the previous description, a list of discovered devices is presented to the user. The user selects devices to add to the controllable set.
16. The at least one machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the broadcast is received by a connected device registry, and wherein the device identifications are received from the connected device registry.
In the device discovery process within the machine-readable medium from the previous description, a central connected device registry receives the broadcast and provides device identifications.
17. The at least one machine readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the device identifications are derived from a user defined translation of a device characterization.
A system, implemented via machine-readable instructions, supports connected device voice commands. It operates by first receiving a user's voice command and identifying nearby connected devices. This identification process can involve receiving a user's discovery request, broadcasting a discovery message, and then receiving unique device identifications from a group of connected devices. A key feature is that these received device identifications are derived from a **user-defined translation of a device characterization**. This means a user can customize how a device's inherent characteristics (e.g., model type, manufacturer) are translated into its recognizable identification within the system. After discovery, the system transforms the voice command into a semantic representation and then into a specific command for the identified devices. If multiple devices support the command, creating a conflict, the system presents this conflict to the user via haptic feedback. It then observes a physical response from the user (such as waving a hand or looking at a device) to select the intended device. Finally, the system reissues the command, restricted solely to the device chosen by the user's physical response.
18. The at least one machine readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the voice command includes a connected device characterization, and wherein identifying the set of connected devices includes filtering a superset of connected devices using the connected device characterization.
In the machine-readable medium from the first description, the voice command includes a device description. The instructions filter a larger set of connected devices using this description.
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November 7, 2017
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